Hat.



- AVZ-EEABLE COPY C. G. BRAZIER.

HAT. APPLICATION FILED AUG-l5. I914.

Patented June 22, 1915.

3 nwwtoz v uni ran snares CHARLES G. BRAZIER, OF NEW YORK, N. K, ASSIGNOR TO HAT CGMPAIIY, 13113.,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. COEPGRATION OF NEW EQEK.

HAT.

Qua-mm manner.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented d 22, 5;,

Application filed. August 15, 191%. Serial 85%,333.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns G. BRAZIER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the'borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hats, oi which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw in s.

l ly invention consists of a,vmans hat of new and useful construction, which, as an article of manufacture, has features radically diii'erent from the numerous wellficown constructions new in universal use 15* today for mens headgear. Among the objects of my invention is the production of headgear for mens use in warm weather, which will be cool, light, af-

iford the best shade for the eyes, will be pliable in the brim, and still durable as to material and wearing qualities.

While susceptible of various modifications fto humor the whim or cater to the dictates of .fashion, my invention in itspreferred form,

.is anembodiment of all the advantageous features of the best types of straw hats now in use, with their disadvantages eliminated and supplanted by the good features of other types'cffhats. The best hat manufacturers Fig. 2 is a transverse section through Fig. l. I

have heretofore considered it impossible to combine these good features of other types with straw construction, in view of which my invention is looked upon as radical and of great importance in the industry The particular form of my invention, which I have shown in the accompanying drawings, consists of a mans 'hat having the base of the crown sufliciently stiff to admirably take the strain incident to a tight fit to the head, while merged atthis base is a pliable felt brim extending laterally and a crown extending upwardly consisting of straw or like material, giving all the advantages of lightness and other qualifica- 4'5 'brim is adapted for all the advantageous tions as will hereinafter appear, while the qualifications more particularly hereinafter set forth' In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the complete article.

Fig. 3 is a section of one side of the hat with the several parts in section shown separated, on twice the scale of Fig. 2.

In the figures, A is a brim; i5 is a contiguous portion extending upwardly form mg a cylindrical band; C is a crown of which the base it laps over the annular band 3, while the sweat-band E surrounds the inside of the band 33, secured to it in any de sired manner.

On the outside of the crown surrounding its base is any usual form of hat band or ribbon i The crown C consists form, of stir: L Panama, ital i an, or an his). lar material suited for summer weather. Such is never, well suited to res? i around the i *requi ed in nons headgear. I therefore combine with the crown C the band ct 4... Stfflll continuous band or ridge B of felt or other tough material, may be desired, admirably aiiords circumferential strength to resist the stretching when the hat is forced on the head,the now practically universal manher of securing mens hats.

In the manufacture of my hat i produce a crown terminating at the base with vertical sides without brim or crimp, and I shape the felt brim merging into the vertical band at its inner periphery, cutting away the central portion to leave the band the desired height, whereupon the two are secured. to

' gether after each has been treated in any desired manner and blocked into t re desired shape. The sweatband is secured inside, preferably by stitching, while on the outside the ribbon, as shown at F, may be secured,

of a tight fit or a detachable band or any other form may i be applied.

It will thus be seen that the material used for the crown of my hat affords the advantages of ventilation, will be light in weight contact with the head. The felt merging into the brim and extending laterally to anydesired extent, may be blocked into any shape or style. Thus in my invention I have a brim consisting of material which is opaque and shades the eyes, and being of a material which may have any desired dark shade, it forms a protection for the eyes which is not possible were the brim made of the light, cool material of the crown. The brim being of impervious and insulating material, it will shed water and protect the head below the hat from the'heat.

With the brim so made and fashioned, it i may be bent, tipped or flexed in any way for convenience or appearance, and such treatment, as well as bending, twisting or the knocking to which it is subjected in V ordinary use, will not crack, mar or break the brim, but on the contrary the character of the brim affords durability and insures retention of its original shape,which would be impossible in the case of straw. The pliability of the brim also affords less purchase for the wind, than a. stiff straw brim, and furthermore will not flap in the "objectionable manner well known in the case of pliable straw brims. The well-known fact that the brim of a straw hat, particularly large pliable straws, is the first part to show the dust and dirt, while with my construction the felt brim may be of any desired dark color not showing discoloration or smudge, but adapted to be very easily brushed, and under any conditions insuring the maintenance of the original appearance'and immaculate condition indefinitely, under ordinary use. The flexing of the brim to shade the eyes will not deteriorate the same, whereas pliable straw hat brims become increasingly limp when bent repeatedly and due to the flapping in the wind and the effect of rain and the elements in ordinary use.

In straw hats heretofore made it has been practice to secure the circumferential strength to resist spreading when forced upon the head, by impregnating the straw with sizing, in consequence of which the hats rapidly lose their block owing to the stretching of the base of the crown, and this constitutes a well-known defect which,

in the industry, it is claimed cannot be overcome, and has not heretofore been overcome in any commercial, practical manner.

In .the embodiment of my invention, the lightest desired sweat-band may be used without the above faults developing. When it becomes pliable owing to the eflects of saturation with perspiration, it will not stretch out of shape as the circumferential strength of that portion of the hat in contact with the head, is afforded by the endless band of tough material, such as felt in the preferred form of my invention. Therefore the sweat-band may be not alone of lighter material without rapid deterioration, but the heat insulating qualities of the endless strain-resistin material prevent the heat from the outsi e penetrating to the Thus while affording a cooler headgear for men, the embodiment of my invention also promotes durability in all parts and permits the use of qualities of material not practical in othervconstructions.

To refer to only one of the many other features of advantage residing in my invention, it can be said that perfectly fiat, pliable brims may be used if desired in my combination straw-crown felt-brim hat, whereas it is well known that a limp straw brim must be curved or else have a curled edge for stifi'ness,-which collects dirt and is otherwise objectionable, cracking or breaking and thereby ruining the hat before it is otherwise worn out.

In the manufacture of my hat the cost, as compared with the now ordinary construction, is at present higher because it involves the manufacture of the brim out of a complete sheet from which the center is removed and to an extent is waste. -A ny increased cost comparatively is, however, so far offset by the durability in addition to the other qualifications of my improved mens hat, that as a practical question to the user my hat is of substantial net superiority in every respect. P

It will be understood that various block or styles or shapes of mens hats may embody my invention. Also the materialmay vary but be of the desired quality for the combination involved in my invention. I

do not therefore confine my invention to'the exact form shown and described herein, but

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A head covering adapted to be held on the head bythe tight fit of the base thereof with the head, comprising a pliable felt brim having an integral upwardly projecttwo subscribing witnesses, this 29 dayof ing band, a sweat-band secured within said July, 1914. upwardly extending band, and a, crown of straw or like material closely fitting and CHARLES A 5 secured to said upwardl extending band. Witnesses:

In testimony Wherem, I havesigned my H. E. LEVY, name to this specification, in the presence of H. D. DABNEY.

00p! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of intents,

Washington, D. 0." 

